| Mental issues today are many and varied. And so is | | | | A psychiatrist is able to prescribe drugs for your |
| the profile of a typical patient. There isn't one because | | | | mental health condition. Psychiatrists are trained in |
| even children can be diagnosed with depression and | | | | assessing various types of mental illness and will even |
| conditions such as dementia and bipolar mood swings | | | | have a patient admitted to hospital if they think such a |
| can be diagnosed in people of varying ages. | | | | move is necessary. |
| And a spin-off from so many of the mental health | | | | A psychologist works more on relationships and how a |
| problems in people is the family member affected by | | | | person gets on within a family structure. They can run |
| the condition. A teen with depression for example can | | | | therapy sessions but do not prescribe drugs. |
| mean a large amount of stress for his or her worrying | | | | Some people with a mental health condition find they |
| parents. In fact it is not uncommon for family members | | | | are unable or less able to perform certain tasks and if |
| of a patient with mental health problems to seek | | | | so, then an occupational therapist can come to your |
| medical assistance for the stress they are suffering | | | | home, assess your needs and set up a program |
| worrying about their loved one. | | | | where you receive whatever assistance is required. |
| Before going to your mental health residential | | | | Visiting nurses are common particularly with elderly |
| treatment center, you would do well to visit your family | | | | patients and a psychiatric nurse visits a person with a |
| doctor and explain your situation to him or her. GPs | | | | mental health condition and gives them whatever |
| are well-known for the vast list of contacts in relevant | | | | advice and assistance they can. It might be because |
| areas of mental health and their advice is most likely to | | | | the patient has difficulty in making the trip to the mental |
| be helpful. If they can't recommend a specialist, and | | | | health treatment center. |
| that would be very rare, they will know someone who | | | | Finally a social worker can help in a number of ways |
| can. Don't bypass your family doctor. | | | | such as advising which form of community or local |
| But sooner or later you will at least investigate your | | | | government support services are available. |
| local residential treatment center for those with mental | | | | Mental health problems can be depressing in |
| health conditions. They are not all the same but most | | | | themselves for both the patient and their family. But |
| will have a number of specialists including the following: | | | | you should understand that there is a great deal of |
| a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a psychiatric nurse, an | | | | support in your community and, in short, help is at hand. |
| occupational therapist and a social worker. Each has a | | | | Take heart from the range of resources and take |
| different role to play and it will help you to know what | | | | advantage of the people and services they provide. |
| each does and for which type of condition. | | | | |